Sunday, November 08, 2015

Oman MOH Statement On Imported Cholera Case From Iraq

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On Friday, in UNICEF Warns On Spread Of Cholera In Middle East, we saw concerns expressed that Iraq’s cholera outbreak had already spread into neighboring Syria, Kuwait and Bahrain, and fears that it could turn into a region-wide epidemic with the influx of millions of religious pilgrims next month for Arba'een.

Adding to this list of affected countries, today the Ministry of Health for Oman has announced the detection of a Cholera infection in a woman recently returned from Iraq.

Not everyone who contracts cholera displays the typical symptoms of acute, profuse watery diarrhea, nausea and vomiting – some people can carry, shed, and spread the bacteria asymptomatically. This stealthy transmission makes containing cholera – particularly in regions with suboptimal water treatment and sanitation facilities – very difficult.

The Ministry of Health has announce that a cholera case was detected for Omani women. The patient receiving the medical care in one of the health institutions in the Sultanate. According to the medical reports, the condition of the patient is stable and improving.

The patient was in a visit to Iraq. Whereas, the Iraqi Health Ministry, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), has already published a statement on proliferation of Cholera disease in 15 Iraqi provinces. Over 2000 cholera cases are confirmed in these provinces.

The Ministry of Health has initiated to take all precautionary measures and isolating the contacts and the accompanying to this case in traveling to Iraq. In which, the tests showed that no related symptoms or similar or secondary cases are found. The ministry will continue to pursue the preventive and precautionary measures during next period.

Cholera is one of the oldest, fast-spreading and epidemic diseases. It affects children and adults alike. It is a bacterial acute intestinal infection caused by eating food or water contaminated with bacteria of cholera.

Symptoms of the disease are often frequent bouts of sudden and severe watery diarrhea. The patient feels contractions in the muscles as a result of losing a lot of body fluids and salts. In addition, children may suffer from severe vomiting and high body temperature.

To avoiding cholera and other food and water borne diseases, basic health and behavioral practices should be followed, for instance, washing hands with soap and water regularly before and after eating foods and after using toilets and follow good practices when preparing and preserving food.

In case of traveling to a country affected with this disease, it should be avoid drinking water and eating from non-secure source. As well as, not eating raw or undercooked seafood, avoiding raw fruits and vegetables and non-pasteurized milk and dairy products which are often seen at the street vendors and popular markets.

The Ministry stresses the necessity of complying with the prevent methods and avoid what causes the disease. The Ministry also calls upon whoever feel the symptoms especially who came from countries affected with this disease or contact with affected people, should heading to nearest health institution and informing them about his/ her health condition.

For more on Iraq’s cholera outbreak you may wish to visit the following WHO links